Education, for boys and girls alike, is a cornerstone for sustainable development of a country. Affordable, quality books, delivered by an efficient and sustainable local book chain, are a key ingredient for inclusive and equitable quality education, goal four of the Sustainable Development Goals. This is the focus of blueTree Group.

Education, for boys and girls alike, is a cornerstone for sustainable development of a country. Affordable, quality books, delivered by an efficient and sustainable local book chain, are a key ingredient for inclusive and equitable quality education, goal four of the Sustainable Development Goals. This is the focus of blueTree Group.

Technical Assistance

Under the USAID funded Early Grade Reading Activity (EGRA), we have implemented a Technical Assistance program in Malawi that has resulted in:

technical training for printers and procurers

the revision of the National Textbook Policy, called the Guidelines on the Management of Teaching and Learning Materials

facilitated donor harmonization in book provision in Malawi

a contribution to the program’s cost-efficiency through a combination of local and international print procurement

the development of a handbook for the implementation of the GMTLM.

In this effort, we closely collaborate with EGRA’s contractor RTI, USAID, the Malawian Ministry of Education, the private sector and other stakeholders in the book chain.

The technical training is improving the local production and procurement capacity, resulting in competitive price offers and diligent procurement processes that balance the benefits of local and international production. The policy review supports the government’s current transition from a public system of providing primary books to a liberalized, decentralized book provision system for both primary and secondary education.

Specific collaboration with GIZ was facilitated and ongoing meetings of the minds with other development partners ensure effective coordination of efforts in book provision. The Early Grade Reading program managed to save an extensive amount of money through our technical support on book procurement. This results in a short term Return on Investment on our assistance.

We also delivered Technical Assistance:

in print procurement for Tusome Project, Kenya

to the local printer Printec in partnerships and investment opportunities, Rwanda